(NewsNation) — Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced Monday she will resign effective March 8.
A source with knowledge of the situation said she and Donald Trump held an one-on-one meeting before McDaniel’s announcement.
“I have decided to step aside at our spring training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a chair of their choosing,” McDaniel said in a statement, first reported by The New York Times. “The R.N.C. has historically undergone change once we have a nominee, and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition. I remain committed to winning back the White House and electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November.”
The move comes as former President Donald Trump looks to reshape the party’s national leadership ahead of the general election this fall, publicly endorsing Michael Whatley, the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. He’s also suggested his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, serve as co-chair.
McDaniel, the first woman to chair the RNC, previously said she planned to step down after the South Carolina primary. She became the national committee leader in 2017 following Trump’s 2016 presidential win.